Leonard George Pohlod

Leonard George Pohlod passed away on October 11, 2019. He was 88 years old. Len was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 23, 1930. (He later joked about only getting one present at Christmas). Len attended North Ridgeville High School, lettered in his favorite sport, basketball, and graduated in 1949. He joined his older brother John (and best friend) at Kent State University and enrolled in the ROTC program. (He and John picked corn at Sweet's farm to help pay for college). At Kent State, he met his lovely wife of 66 years, Ellen, (Jost) and they married his senior year. He graduated in 1953 with a degree in Industrial Technology and fulfilled his military obligations as an Army 2nd Lieutenant Infantry Officer, after a brief separation, he re-entered military service. Earning a parachute badge he continued his infantry studies at Ft. Benning and with his young family was transferred to Bad Nauheim, Germany where he was put on high alert during the Berlin Wall crises. Rotated back to the U.S. he was then transferred to South Korea to assist senior staff with negotiations in Panmunjom. In January 1967 he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division's Mobile Riverine Force in Vietnam earning a Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star. He returned to civilian life and joined the Ohio Adult Parole Authority in 1968. His Christian faith guided him to work hard to assist his charges' rehabilitation and he fondly recalls sharing squirrel and rabbit dinners with the families in the rural parts of Fairfield, Perry and Vinton counties. Len advanced to a Senior Circuit Officer for the APA reviewing, and voting for or against parole for serious criminal offenders. His concern for crime victim's justice and their safety was an important factor in his decisions. Len and Ellen re-located to Amanda to enjoy countryside living with cattle and sheep! Len maintained a fervent attachment to the Missouri Synod Lutheran church and was a respected member of the many Lutheran churches he and his family attended across the world. He is survived by his wife Ellen. Also survived by sons and daughters Peter, Jason, Patricia, David, Karen, Jonathan, grandchildren Evan, Lauren, Kelli, Elizabeth, Rene, Anna, and the silly one Corrine.